ALARMS
Westfall Township Ordinance
On January 21, 1986, the Supervisors of Westfall Township passed Ordinance
#50. An ordinance regulating the installation and use of private alarm
systems in the Township of Westfall, and providing for the issuance of
permits for the installation of such systems.
Applications -
Click here for Alarm Registration
Form
Any property owner wishing to install an alarm system shall file with the
Eastern Pike Regional Police Department, on forms provided, a written
application stating the name, address and telephone number of the property
owner/applicant; a description of the property or properties where the
proposed alarm system shall be installed; the location and street address of
the property; a description of the type or types of alarm system(s) to be
used, including name and model number of the manufacturer; the name of the
person or company who will install the alarm system; who will be available
to be contacted in the event of an alarm activation In the event the name,
mailing address, or telephone number of the person or company to be
contacted changes, the applicant shall supply this information to the
Eastern Pike Regional Police Department within 5 days of the change.
In case there is more than one (1) building in which the alarm system shall
be installed, the applicant must provide the borough with information
concerning how the alarm for each building shall be distinguishable from the
alarm in said other building. The property owner or his designee, upon the
request of the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department, shall be required to
be present at the alarm location within a reasonable period of time after
being advised that the police or other emergency departments have received a
signal or message of an alarm activation.
Transfer of Permits
Alarm permits shall not be transferable from one property to another or from
one location to another without the express written authorization from the
Eastern Pike Regional Police Department. In the event that the premises in
which the alarm system has been installed is to be transferred to another
individual, it shall be the responsibility of the permittee to notify the
Eastern Pike Regional Police Department of the name, address and phone
number of said transferee.
Alarm Permit Fees
Every person applying for an alarm permit under the provisions of this
ordinance shall pay a fee of $25.00 to obtain the permit prior to the
installation of the alarm system on the premises.
Any individual who presently owns, or obtains title to premises in which any
alarm system has already been installed shall pay the fee of $10.00 to
register his new name, address, telephone number, and the individual to be
contacted in case of the activation of the alarm system.
FALSE ALARMS
The Eastern Pike Regional Police Department respond to over 150 alarms
annually. Of these, better than 98% are false. They are the result of
operator error and faulty equipment. As a result, more than 50 hours of
officer’s time are spent in response to these false alarms. This means there
is that much less time they have for needed police work. This continued
response to false alarms lures the officer into a feeling of “just another
false alarm”, thus failing to take proper safeguards and open themselves to
personal hazard when the alarm is valid.
How to Reduce False Alarms
Be sure to have a good quality alarm system that has been installed by a
licensed alarm company
Be sure that all of your employees are familiar with how
your alarm system works.
Have your alarm system tested on a regular basis.
The Eastern Pike Regional Police Department will assist you in any
way with your alarm needs as well as give you further ideas on crime
prevention, at your request. |
State Law
Under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code Section 7511(c)(1) entitled
Control
of Alarm devices and automatic dialing devices a false alarm is
prohibited and fines may be assessed for:
A person that owns, uses or possesses an alarm device or automatic dialing
device may not, after causing or permitting three false alarms to occur in a
consecutive 12-month period, cause or permit a subsequent false alarm to
occur in the same consecutive 12-month period. A person that violates this
paragraph commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $300.00.
The Crimes Code defines a false alarm as:
The activation of an alarm device to which a public safety agency
responds when a crime, fire or other emergency has not occurred.
The Borough and the Township definitions:
Alarm System – Any device designated to use for detection
of intrusion into a building, structure or facility or for alerting persons
in the attempt or commission of a crime or any emergency situation involving
potential death or serious injury and which is directly connected to an
audible alarm for the transmission of a related signal or message which is
used to evoke an emergency response to any address or separate component of
any system.
Nuisance Alarm – The activation of an alarm system due to
other than the said purpose for which the alarm system is designed. Any
activation of an alarm system caused by its malfunction because of violent
natural catastrophic conditions, including electrical storms or power
outages, or conditions beyond the control of the property owner.
Matamoras Borough Ordinance
The Borough of Matamoras adopted Ordinance #224 ALARM SYSTEMS on July 3,
1990. The ordinance regulates the installation and use of private alarm
systems in the Borough of Matamoras, as well as, providing for the issuance
of permits for the installation of such systems and revocations thereof.
Application Required -
Click here for Alarm Registration Form
Any property owner wishing to install an alarm system shall file with the
Eastern Pike Regional Police Department, on forms provided, a written
application stating the name, address and telephone number of the property
owner/applicant; a description of the property or properties where the
proposed alarm system shall be installed; the location and street address of
the property; a description of the type or types of alarm system(s) to be
used, including name and model number of the manufacturer; the name of the
person or company who will install the alarm system; the name address and
telephone number of any person or company who or which, in the owner’s
absence, will be available to be contacted in the event of an alarm
activation.
In the event that the name, mailing address or telephone number of the
person or company to be contacted changes, the applicant shall supply this
information to the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department within five (5)
days of the change. In case there is more than one (1) building in which the
alarm system shall be installed, the applicant must provide the borough with
information concerning how the alarm for each building shall be
distinguishable from the alarm in said other building. The property owner or
his designee, upon the request of the Eastern Pike Regional Police
Department, shall be required to be present at the alarm location within a
reasonable period of time after being advised that the police or other
emergency departments have received a signal or message of an alarm
activation.
Transfer of Permits
A. Alarm permits shall not be transferable from one property to another or
from one location to another without the express written authorization from
the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department. In the event that the premises
in which the alarm system has been installed is to be transferred to another
individual, it shall be the responsibility of the permittee to notify the
Eastern Pike Regional Police Department of the name, address and phone
number of said transferee.
Alarm permit fees
A. Every person applying for an alarm permit under the provisions of this
chapter shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.) to obtain the permit
prior to the installation of the alarm system on the premises.
